1: Contract Agreement

"So, the love of your life, the lady Cecile, ditched you and married Alpha Kieran?" Penelope puffed her tobacco and it went directly into the man's face. However, he remained unfazed.

"Yes, my lady." He responded, maintaining eye contact.

"And it resorted to Alpha Kieran considering stripping you of your position because he believes you still have eyes for his wife, your ex-lover, correct?" She uplifted a brow as she threw her legs above his desk and pulled her long skirt up and parted her, revealing her pink cotton panties.

"You're right," Quinlan averted his gaze elsewhere because he didn't want to see bits of her pieces even though she was selling herself to him. He wasn't interested in what she was offering, he wanted her to agree in signing the papers he had on her desk, the ones she had her legs upon. "He's a good man, but he told me it'd be awkward to have me serve him when he's married to my ex-lover. So I want to marry as fast as I can before he relieves me of my duties."

"And now you come to me, a common whore to be your contracted wife in order to not lose your position as Alpha Kieran's beta. You want to have him think you've moved on."

"You will be finely paid, Lady Penelope. The sum of six thousand pounds will be transferred to you once you sign the contract papers and the remaining half will be six months into the marriage. And there's more, you will be given five thousand pounds if you handle your job fairly."

"When is the contract expiring again, my lord Beta?" Penelope once again took a drag from her tobacco, with her eyes never leaving Quinlan's.

"A year, you needn't continue this job in the pleasure house afterward, because you'll be rich. You could travel to London and start life afresh."

"I'm afraid it's none of your business what I do with my life afterward." Glaring at him, she withdrew her legs and covered her skirt above them.

"My apologies,"

"Five minutes, let me read through the terms of this contract and I will sign if it pleases me."

"As you wish, you can take as long as you want."

"Have a seat, my lord." She nudged her head beside him.

"I prefer standing." Quinlan disapproved immediately.

Penelope threw him a suspicious glance through a squint, "wait a minute," she held up a hand, "may I know why you came into the pleasure house to ask this of me when you know full well that I am the biggest slut in the whole of England."

"So I will not generate any feelings towards you. No offense, but no man will fall in love with a whore." Quinlan's face was frigid as he made this remark.

"I see," Penelope stared thoughtfully into the air. "You do not wish to get over the lady Cecile, you want to carry on loving her, hurting. I'll take it that you're afraid if you marry a decent lady you'll forget about her so soon."

"Not entirely true," Quinlan's chest rose and fell as he released a breath and pushed back a strand of sand-blonde hair that had fallen over his face, "working with a whore wouldn't be bothersome because you're smart and mature."

"I am only five years ahead of you, my lord. But I'll take that as a compliment." Penelope smirked and immediately raised the papers to cover her face.

She let her eyes skim through the papers until she got to the rules.

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One. Perform wifely duties outside the home, e.g; Being friendly and considerate, calm and poised. You must not raise your voice at the Lord in public. If exasperated, approach him calmly in private.

Two. When indoors, you can go back to living your normal life. Lord Quinlan likes the quiet and prefers not to be disturbed. Neither will you stir up meaningless conversations.

Three: Separate bedrooms, but this must not be known outside. If a family member comes to visit, both parties will share the Lord's room or the lady's room. Although one will have to sleep over the floor, depending on whose turn it is.

Four: Holding hands in public, a peck, or even a light kiss is allowed to make people believe you two are in love.

Five: There'd be no intimate moments between both parties, however, if the lady cannot control her feminine urges, she can keep a lover who she will always visit under a disguise.

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Penelope snorted and allowed her eyes to meet Quinlan who was observing her office. He was still standing in the same position, as stiff as a statue. The man already had things planned out.

"You do know I am a whore and wherever I go in this city, I will be recognized, be it under a disguise or not?" Penelope arched a brow at Quinlan, capturing his attention with her voice immediately.

"Well…" Quinlan paused and let his mind waver for a second, "you could impersonate a male."

"Heavens! Dressing up as a man to get myself pleasured?"

"Yes, I see nothing wrong with that. It's only an hour or two, thing."

"How about we invite a man into our home?"

"I'm afraid that's impossible." Quinlan's tone was as sharp as his jaw.

"Right." Penelope placed the papers on the desk, "where do I sign?"

"On the first page," Quinlan took the papers from her, turned to the first page, placed it on the desk, and tapped on a spot, "here."

Dipping the quill in the ink with her left hand, Penelope held captive her inhale. Signing this contract would mean no prostitute for a year, and neither will she mingle with any of her customers. She will cut all ties with them and leave the pleasure house.

Throwing one last look at Quinlan's gray eyes, she released her breath and signed her signature, before handing him the papers.

Quinlan stared at the signature, before holding out his hand for a handshake.

"I'll take it that the deal has been sealed?" Penelope accepted his warm big hand.

"Yes," he withdrew his hand and wore his hat over his head, "Here's your cheque of six thousand pounds."

Penelope stood up and adjusted her skirt, before accepting the cheque and flapping her fingers over it with a small side-lipped smirk that made her appear business-like to Quinlan.

"When is the wedding?"

"Tonight, my lady. Meet me by nine at the Sun god's temple behind the baker's shop."

"May I know the number of people that will be in attendance?"

"My parents of course, and a few friends. I'll look for a way to convince Alpha Kieran into coming with…" Quinlan paused and swallowed hard, he wouldn't get emotional now, but it was hard to even call out her name without feeling a strike of pain. "with the Luna."

"How come?" Penelope placed a finger on her chin.

"I already told them I have someone I am marrying," Quinlan put the papers into his bag and zipped it, before putting it under his arm. "You don't need to worry about anything, my lady, everything will be set," he assured her.

"Tell me, my lord," Penelope walked around him with her arms folded across her chest, "how will your parents feel about this? Half of the town's men have bedded me. No mother or father will settle well with the idea of their reputable son, alpha's beta for that matter, marrying a whore."

"Well I must commend your exhibition of this careful thought, but it's no one's business what I do with my life," Quinlan answered briefly and maintained eye contact with this tall, black-haired woman with brown eyes. He liked the fact that she had a deep sense of reasoning, too smart to be a whore if he may add.

"Nine pm, Sun god's temple?" Penelope asked.

"Yes, my lady. I will be expecting you. And it will be highly appreciated if you cover yourself up nicely." Quinlan said.

"Do not underestimate me, Quinlan, you will not be disappointed,"

"Right," and he saw himself out with that.